Temp gauge acting oddly!

[mrs_muffinhead]

Hello All,

We're back safely from the Bash and had a fab time - only downside was our temperature gauge giving us kittens on both the drive there and the drive home again.

It kept fluctuating wildly from the 11 O'clock position where it normally sits, right down to the Cold position. It never went over the 11 O'clock though - just downwards.

We pulled over several times on the journey to check the coolant level which looks to be fine and not going down at all so not sure what's going on.

Also, our petrol gauge stays put when we turn the engine off - doesn't go back to zero. Not sure if these two things could be related and our gauges faulty.

Any ideas on what's causing this/how to remedy it would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,

MMH

[dave_aber]

Think the fuel gauge is supposed to do that. I hired a new-model 2.5 v6 recently and it did.

AFAIK it's common on Japanese cars, and on some Fords.

[scanner]

Think the fuel gauge is supposed to do that. I hired a new-model 2.5 v6 recently and it did.

AFAIK it's common on Japanese cars, and on some Fords.

Yep they all do that....

and (I'll say it yet again) If the temp gauge is unmodified (no Mason alarm) it WILL NOT go over 11 o'clock until you've cooked your engine.

In standard form the temp gauge is USELESS.

[jaylee]

Just to help out with the peace of mind thing...
The FUEL gauge will still work with the ignition OFF!

Yep they all do that....

and (I'll say it yet again) If the temp gauge is unmodified (no Mason alarm) it WILL NOT go over 11 o'clock until you've cooked your engine.

In standard form the temp gauge is USELESS.

I'm with Scanner on this one.. Though, why it would drop to cold is beyond me without checking the connections... Starting with the connector block to the loom at the back of the dial pod.

[haydn callow]

One reason it could drop to cold is if the sensor in the cylinder head was not immersed in coolant and was instead in a air bubble for a while.(not good) I'm saying this is the problem but it could be.....

[mikeonb4c]

Wasn't there someone else on here recently (can't quite remember) who had what turned out to be simply a connection problem with the temp. gauge? Might be worth a search. Out of interest, has anyone been tampering with the instrument panel for any reason?

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say nothing serious is going on - its just the gauge/sensor playing up. However, you don't want to assume that is the case - it does need sorting. Hope you get it sorted OK and keep us posted

[waycar8]

check the wire that comes off the sender unit, clean the contacts on the sender unit and the conector block.

[spout]

Yep, ours started doing this last week.
As the engine warmed the gauge would jiggle until fully warm then settle down to 11 o'clock. But then on a long journey (the first for some time) I noticed the gauge occassionally dropping to zero. Coolant levels checked out OK.
Did a search on here and read of possible poor connection on the "sender" (under the drivers seat - RHS front cylinder head). Had a quick check - the connection was solid but I cleaned up the contacts anyway.
So far seems to have done the trick - gauge back to how it was. And a lot easier than the flush and bleed I'd psyched myself up for.

Paul

[rayd8or]

Amazing forum this...just when you think a problem can't be answered and think about posting a real nasty question, you do a little search first and Hey Presto there is an identical problem complete with answers!!

My 2.0l has just started doing exactly the same - gauge falls to zero and then flicks back up. We have a Hayden alarm so I knew the coolant was OK but still a bit worrying.

Will get on and clean those contacts...

Cheers

PS Enjoyed the Bash 09 as a visitor on Saturday evening, didn't get to chat (except briefly to Cabte in the tent with the Bongo T shirts etc) but really enjoyed the band and the lanterns Oh and Kirsty's fire act!

Ray & Lou

[spout]

Further investigation after the problem recurred again a few weeks later has found the male spade connector is loose on the sensor - not the wire to spade but spade to sensor.
When it is wobbled the gauge dances around (driving round sharp corners had the same effect ).

I haven't used a soldering iron for a quarter of a century, but I'm going to try a repair this weekend.

If I'm unsuccessful, I suppose I'll need a new sensor, is the sensor a standard part, or specific to the Bongo?

Cheers

[daveblueozzie]

Further investigation after the problem recurred again a few weeks later has found the male spade connector is loose on the sensor - not the wire to spade but spade to sensor.
When it is wobbled the gauge dances around (driving round sharp corners had the same effect ).

I haven't used a soldering iron for a quarter of a century, but I'm going to try a repair this weekend.

If I'm unsuccessful, I suppose I'll need a new sensor, is the sensor a standard part, or specific to the Bongo?

Cheers

Why not come to Tatton Park on Sunday, im sure someone will sort the connection for you.